Reviewed 12/31/2012. Thanks to Momar42 for the unavailable in ’Murrca surprise! Part of a 750mL bottle poured into a Cantillon tulip. Notes from last night’s Skins/Cowboys game.
A: Pours a dark plum color with a shit ton of ugly sediment floating about. The head is an awful looking lavender film floating on top of the brew with big bubbles and general ugliness.
S: Very earthy, to the point of being ’dirty’ smelling, almost even fungal. Light cherries and acetic tartness comes through in a timid manner.
T: It’s far more tart in the flavor profile. This one starts with cherries briefly - then BOOM! Acetic, vinegary sourness bombards the palate - I’d reckon the balance is 85% tart, 15% sweet cherries. More of the earthy qualities from the aroma appear later on to finish the brew off. Shame it came after three excellent gueuzes, because this one really spoke to my sour tastebuds very well. It just couldn’t measure up regardless.
But compared to the fruity, Arbor Mist-esque (artificial) sugar bombs Lindemans is wont to creating, this is a damn godsend.
M: Not as dry as the gueuzes I just sampled - but just as tannic, if not moreso. As such, it comes across a little harshly. If anything, aging this should give it a more delicate subtlety to the palate qualities.
O: I love the sourness this is providing. If I didn’t just have a trio of quality gueuzes, this would probably score a little higher, as unfair as it sounds. A year of age should round out some of its rough edges a touch.

Deep red and minimal head. Not quite as deep cherry aroma and taste as some other, but it is still a nice fruity lambic.Fairly simple to drink, if you are used to sour beers, perhaps a little too simple. Not so sugary so it does not bore you to drink a whole bottle. (75cl bottle from trade with VDuquerroux)

2012 bottle. The beer is a deep magenta-red color with a fizzy pink head. The bubbles dissipate fairly quickly. The liquid is dark and clouded over. The aroma is cherries, lemons and light lambic funk. There’s a mild medicinal notes, and it shows a touch of age. The fruit is mostly sour cherry goodness, but there are shades of berries and grapes to it. Little bit of sourness comes through. The funk is pretty much in line with Gueuze Cuvée René, light and gentle but packs some delicate depth. Taste is rather tart. Some sour cherries but more lemon peel and sour grapes. Just a touch of fruit sweetness initially. Dry finish. Plenty of pucker. Some body to it. Fairly effervescent. Solid kriek. I wouldn’t mind seeing bottles on local shelves.

It pours transparent ruby; the head is salmon and foamy. The aroma has notes of: barnyard funk, and red cherries. The taste is heavy sweet and heavy sour; there are notes of: cherries, slight anise, lemon juice, funk, and a grassy quality. The palate is medium heavy bodied; has medium carbonation; has a viscous and cloying mouthful, and a medium finish. Overall, love the balance between funk and fruit.

750ml bottle in a taster in line at OEC. Pours hazy ruby with an off-white head. Aroma of sourness, cherries, some light malts, and hints of wheat. Flavor a nice blend of the cherries and sourness. Average texture. A pretty good kriek.

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